CEH Report

Table of Contents

Abstract

Nearly 90% of world adiponitrile capacity is in the United States and Western Europe with three producers—INVISTA, Ascend Performance Materials and Butachimie SNC (owned 50% by INVISTA and Rhodia). These three producers also account for nearly 80% of the total HMDA capacity.

It is assumed that all adiponitrile is consumed in the production of HMDA. Since the early 2000s HMDA demand has been slowing in the United States, Western Europe and Japan, contributing to adiponitrile declines. Consumption of HMDA throughout the world remains closely tied to demand for nylon 66 fibers and resins. Nylon 66 fibers and resins account for more than 90% of the combined regional consumption of the United States, Western Europe, China and Japan in 2010.

The following pie charts show world consumption of HMDA and adiponitrile.

The mature nylon fiber market has the largest influence on world HMDA demand. This correlation, however, plays a less dominant role in Japan and a decreasing role in the United States and Western Europe as nylon resin begins to account for a larger share of the HMDA market.

Most HMDA demand growth in North America and Europe will result from increased demand in the nylon 66 resin industry, primarily in automotive applications such as exterior automotive body components, under-the-hood components and some mechanical components. Consumption of nylon 66 resins in the automotive industry is expected to grow at or faster than GDP as a result of the auto industry's continued acceptance of nylon over metal for a variety of automotive components. Other growing nylon 66 resin applications include electronic applications, film and extrusion coatings.

As nylon 66 expands further into applications outside of fibers, demand for adiponitrile and HMDA will become more influenced by changes in the global economy.